Apparatus for the endothermic reaction of gases.



W. s. LEE. APPARATUS FOR THE ENDOTHERMIG EEAGTION 0F GASES.

APPLICATION FILED MAgRA, 1911. RENEWED JUNE 22, 1912. 1 1 1 31 Patented Jan. 21, 1913.

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W. S. LEE. APPARATUS FOR THE ENDOTHERM APPLIGATiON FILED MAR. 4, 1911.

1G REACTION OF GASES.

RENEWED JUNE 2211912.

Patented Jan. 21, 1913.

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1,051,131, Patented Jan.21, 1913.

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UNITED STATES OFFICE.

WILLIAM S. LEE, OF CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA.

APPARATUS :ron THE ENDOTHEBMIC REACTION or G SES.

Specification of Letters Iatent.

Application filed March 4,1911, Serial No. 612,324. .Renewed June 22, 1912. Serial No. 705,809.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. LEE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Charlotte, in the county of Mecklenburg and State of North Carolina, have invented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for the ,Endothermic Reaction of Gases, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to apparatus for producing endothermic reactions in gases,

and is designed chiefly for the fixation of nitrogen. The said apparatus comprises two continuously moving surfaces, and mountings for the same, means for moving them continuously away from each other, electrical connections to said surfaces through which electric power may be conducted to maintain-an are between the surfaces, and means for directing the gas to be acted upon in the vicinity of and through the arc. In the embodiment which I disclose herein I make use of rot-atably mounted circular disks of the material adapted to be rotated in opposite directions (although they may be rotated in the same direction), the disks being located in a common plane, and the are being struckbetween them initially on the line of centers of the disks.

Additionally my invention comprises structural features for the effectual leading of the gases to and from the arc, for the cooling of the moving surfaces, for the proper insulation of these surfaces, for the adjustment of these surfaces to compensate for wear, and other perhaps minor detail features.

In the accompanyin drawings I show several embodiments 0 my invention.

Figure 1 is a central vertical transverse section of one form of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same apparatus. Fig. 3 is'an end elevation of the same. Figs. 4,

5 and 6 are details showing/modifiedmeans for directing'the gases into the arcs. Fig. 7 is a vertical transverse section of a'modified apparatus. Fig. 8 is a sectional plan view of a portion of the same, showing particularly the means for cooling the moving surfaces. Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view showing the electrical connections of a series 7 These disks, as shown are relatively thin, but they may be madeas thick on the edge portions as is found desirable to suit the power conditions, and to compensate for wearing away. (See Fig. 10.) The are may travel back and forth then parallel to their axes, from point to point. The result is long life. They are made in two halves bolted together and about the supporting shafts '11 and l1, and as shown, located adjacent each other andin the same transv rse plane. They may have removable peri heral wearingsections as shown. There are one or more of these disks on each-shaft.

The invention may be carried out by the provision of a single disk on. each shaft, and this arrangement may be duplicated by providing two, "or any desired number, of disks on each shaft. For. the purpose of illustration merely the drawings show apparatus organized with -two dlsks 'on each shaft.

The shafts are journaled in end bearings 12, 12' mounted on and insulated from bearing carriages 13, 13' adapted by means of wheels 14 to move laterally, carrying the bearings, on track ways 15, 15. One of these track ways 15 is below the other 15, so that the projecting ends 16, 16 of the carriages overlap each other. Between them 1s provided a pinion 17 secured on a fixed shaft 18 journaled in bearings 19. Racks 20 and 20 on the projectin ends 16, 16" of the carriages are engaged y this pinion. By rotating the shaft 18 it will be seen that the carriages 13, 13 may be moved toward and from each other. A lever 21 connecting with the shaft 18 is provided for this purpose. Thus the arallel shafts may be moved toward and rom each other in parallel relation.

Extending transversely of the shafts 11 and below them at one end is a drive shaft 22 supported in insulated bearings 23,24 and 25., This shaft is adapted to be continuous'ly driven by an electric motor 26. Right and left hand worms'27, 27 on the drive shaft are provided, engaging gears 28, 28 on the shafts 11, whereby the disks 10, 10 are continuously rotated from the drive shaft 22.

Electrical connections to the disks are made through conductors 29, 29' connecting with brushes 30, 30 bearing upon suitable rings 31, 31' on the shafts 11 and electrically connected with the disks 1Q, 10'. Upon the application of a suitable electric potential tothe conductors 29, 29, electric arcs may be struck between the surfaces 10, 10 at their most closely adjacent points on their line of centers. Immediately, due to the flaring of the surfaces away from each other, the arc runs. up upon them, due to the same reasons on account of which it runs up upon a horn shaped electrode as is well understood in'the art. Due to the draft created by the arc in mostcases the arc will run up instead of down, thus confining itself to the space above the line of centers of the disk. Upon the rotationof the disks, in the directioniof the arrows, however, even if the arc-has taken a place below the line of centers, it is quickly transferred above the line of centers, and the arcup'on the continued rotation is spread to form an v are flame of very great surface area. If the disks are rotated oppositely, thearc may be maintained below the line of centers.

By the provi ion of achimney 32, into the center of whic the disks 10, 10. project through slits 33 in opposite sides, the gasv It passes inward and upward in the direction of movement of the surfaces of the disks 10, 10 directly over and through the arc of great area produced as described. Instead of using the form of chimney shown in Fig. 1, I may use the form shown'in Fig. 4, in which, in addition to the slits 33, the openings 34 are provided in the bottom of the chimney, or the form of F ig. 5,in which the entire bottom of the chimney is open, or the form of Fig. 6 which difi'ers from the form of Fig. 5 inthat two adjacent openin s 33 are merged and a single opening of muc larger area provided and through which the pairs of disks 10 roject into the chimney. In the form of ig. 1 additional lateral openings 35 may be provided as shown.

In combination with the apparatus as thus described, I provide a most eflicient means for cooling the disks 10, 10', both by means. of the gas to be acted upon, thus affectin a prelimlnary heating of that gas, which as proven most efficacious in several forms of the a paratus, and also a means'for cooling, additionally by means of another fluid. In

Figs. 1 and 2 are shown means for intro-- ducing air, in the form of conduits 36, 36,- which direct it upon the surfaces of the disks l0, 10 between the chimney 32. In order to further the efliciency of this action the portions of the disks 10, 10' without the chimney are housed in chambers 37 37, and the fluid operated upon introduced entirel y through the conduits 36,- 36-. The

entire mass of gas operated upon is therefore heated in the cooling'of the hot disks 10, l0.- Additionally -.the disks are cooled by jets of water 38 directed on'the, surfaces of the disks in chambers 39 sub-divided from the main chambers 37 by means of suitable partitions'39. By virtue of the subdivislon of the chambers 37, the entrance of the mixture of the water with thegasesis effectually prevented.-

In Figs. 7 and Sis shown a modified form of apparatus, in which the cooling is accomplished mainly by water, the sub-division of the chambers 37 being'made by a vertical partition 40, instead of the partition of the form shown in Fig. 1. In this form also ater is introduced through a manifold 41,

ceding spray heads 42, which discharge one bet-ween each two adjacent surfaces of the pairs of disks. This is the apparatus ofmy invention. It should be evident that I may use together as many of the apparatuses shown as I may desire, connected either in series or in parallel relation. In 9 I show the usual method of connecting these apparatuses in series, and in this example of myinvention show two arcs in parallel in each apparatus. As is common in the art-I may connect to a single source ofpower as many of these apparatus in series as I may desire. 'With 'thlS knowledge of the apparatus of my invention, the operation thereof is apparent but may be briefly stated. faces which move continuously away from each other. The portions of the disks 10 above the center line move continuously away from each ot-her. The are is thus flared and given. a very extended area, due combinedly to the flaring of the surfaces away from each other and to their actual continuous movement away from each other. As far as movement away from each other is concerned, it will be evident that the disks may be rotated in the same direction as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 7 In this instance there is produced a very intense arc of extended proportions between the portions of the disks most closely related'to each other and extending some distance along the line perpendicularl to the line of centers of the disks. Air is passed in the vicinity of and through this arc, and accordin to the method, passed in the direction 0 movement of the adj'acent surfaces, thus being acted upon thoroughly. By suitably varying the speed of passage of the gas by and through the arc, reaction may be had as full and as complete as desired. It is needless to add perhaps that the reactions produced by this apparatus will be highly efficient. The requirements as to intense heat of the arc, and action of the are upon the entire mixture, and the passage of the The -are is struck between the surgreatest quantity of gas past the arc, in a given time, and the. rapid .removal ofthe gas thoroughly acted u on from the arc,-are

each and all most read' y fulfilled by the use of this apparatus. -Additionally it may be mentioned that the moving surfaces may be adjusted much closer to each other than stationary surfaces. Hence, there is less tend legal purview of'my invention.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is 1. An apparatus for producing endothermic reactions in gases comprising two endless surfaces adjacent each other, means for moving. said surfaces in opposite directions,

electrical connections to said surfaces by which said surfaces may be connected to a source of electrical energy, and means for means for directingthe gas to be acted upon between the adjacent moving portions of said surfaces. v

2. An apparatus for producing endothermic reactions in ases, a pairof rotating disks adjacent each other and spaced apart, rotatin said disks, connections from said disks-a a ting them for connection with a source 0 electrical energy, and means for directing the gas to be acted upon between the adjacent moving portions of said surfaces. 4 3; An apparatus for producing endothermic reactions in gases comprising a pair of rotatable disks located in the same plane and spaced apart, and electrical connections tosaid disks, and means for directing the gas to be acted upon between the adjacent moving portions ofsaid surfaces.

4. An apparatus for producing endothermic reactions in gases com rising rotatable disks spaced apart, parallel shafts supported upon said disks,-means for moving the shafts toward and from each other in parallel relation, to vary the position of the disks with respect to each other, electrical connection to said disks, and means for directing the gas to be acted upon between the adj acent moving portions of said disks.

5. An apparatus for producingendother} mic reactions in' gases comprising two end- 1 less surfaces, means for. moving said surfaces with respect to each other, electrical connections to said surfaces, a chimney surrounding the adjacent portionsof said surfaces, an air inlet to said chimney, and an air outlet .to said chimney.

6. An'apparatus for producing endother- .mic reactions in gases comprising two' endless surfaces, means for moving said surfaces with respect to each other, electrical less surfaces, means for moving said faces with respect to each other, electrical connections-to said surfaces, a chimney surrounding the adjacent portions of said surfaces, and lateral openings through which the surfaces proj wider than the said surfaces are thick.

. 7. An apparatus for-producing endothermic reactions in gases comprising two endless surfaces, means for moving said surfaces with respect to each other, electrical connections to said surfaces, a chimney surrounding the adjacent portions of said surfaces, lateral openings through which the surfaces project, said openings being wider than the said surfaces are thick, and additional openings at the bottom 'of said chimney.

8. An apparatus for producing. endothermic reactions in gases comprising two endless surfaces, means for moving saidsurfaces with respect to each other, electrical connections to said surfaces, a chimney surrounding the adjacent portions of said surfaces, an air inlet to said. chimney, an air outlet to said chimney, an inlet chamber adjoining said chimney, and means for directing gas through said chamber.

9. An apparatus for producing endothermic reactions in gases comprising two endsurconnections to said surfaces, a'chimney surrounding the adjacent portions of said surfaces. an air inlet to said chimney, an air outlet to said chimney, an inlet chamber adjoining said chimney and in which the outer portions of the moving surfaces are housed, and means directing the gas to be acted upon into said inlet ichamber and upon the surfaces.

ect, said openings being 10. An"apparatus for producing endo- I thermic reactions in gases comprising two endless surfaces adjacent each other, means for moving said surfaces in opposite directions, electrical connections to said surfaces by which said surfaces may be connected'to I a source of electrical energy, means for directing the gas to be actedupon between the adjacent moving portions of said surfaces, and'cooling means for said surfaces. lLAn apparatus for producing endothermic reactions in gases" comprising two endless surfaces adjacent each other, means for moving said surfaces in opposite direc tions, electrical connections to said surfaces, a chimney surrounding the adjacent portions of said surfaces,-an air inlet to said chimney, an air outlet to said chimney, an inlet chamber adjoining said chimney. and in which the outer portions of the moving surfaces are housed, means directing the gas to be acted upon into said inlet chamber and upon the surfaces, and additional cooling means for said surfaces.

12. An apparatus for producing endothermic reactions in gases comprising a pair of moving surfaces, means for continuously moving said surfaces away from each other, electrical connections to said surfaces, and means for adjusting the distance between the surfaces.

13. An apparatus for producing endothermic reactions in gases comprising two endless surfaces adjacent each other, means for moving said surfaces in opposite directions, electrical connections to said surfaces by which said surfaces may be connected to a source of electrical energy, and means for directing the gas to be acted upon between the adjacent moving portions of said surfaces, the wearing portions of said endless surfaces being constituted by removable sections.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM S. LEE. Witnesses:

A, H. BUBROUGHS, L. A. HAMMERSLEY. 

